Laughter is my coping mechanism. It would have to be with seven kids running around, wouldn’t it? There can be a lot to cope with at my house. Friend, let me tell you, that at any given moment life can throw me a choice; laugh or cry. I’ve learned to choose the laughter.
In the spirit of that laughter, let me give you a bit of insight on our family.
We are crazy.
All of us.
Extended family most certainly included.
My husband and I are a perfect blend of Latino meets Red-neck.
My side of the family keeps empty plastic “cool-whip” and yogurt containers and calls them “Tupperware.” My dad wears nothing but flannel. They collect black VHS tapes recorded off the TV; filled with a decade of “60 MINUTES” and “M*A*S*H” episodes and God-knows-how-many other Disney specials from the 80’s, such as “Fuzz Bucket.” Growing up, I actually believed you pronounced the “p” in “pneumonia.” I even argued with the teacher one day as a kid. We had a beat up camper trailer on our front lawn until well after I moved out. We got our first computer when I was 16. My mom did everything humanly possible to prepare for Y2k, including hiding bathtub sized water barrels in the backyard. Along with a portable toilet. In their subdivision.
It’s easy to see the weirdness in my family now that I’m on the outside looking back. I had a great childhood. And now I’m doing my best to ensure that my own kids need therapy one day to overcome my faults and quirks. That’s part of being a successful parent; making sure your kids need professional help one day.
Although my hubby (let’s call him Mr. Diaz) is not 100% Latino, my husband’s family does everything with a Mexican flare.
Here’s what I’ve learned after 16 years with Mr. Diaz;
No matter what a Mexican does, a party comes with them.
It’s in their blood.
When you’re a blended family of Red-nex-icans, it’s perfectly normal to have a family member show up at your only child’s first birthday party with a keg of beer. And a piñata. And six guys all named Paco, Jose and Carlos, whom you’ve never met. Same goes for weddings, funerals, graduations and childbirths. Because parties don’t discriminate.
Fast-forward fourteen years of marriage and seven kids later, and this is where we are today.
We are a blend of two different worlds that smashed together and stuck. The personalities in our home all stand out and make each of us unique. Without a doubt we are weirder than most. We are a loud, rambunctious group of home-educating, church-going, garage-sale-shopping, tortilla-eating Red-nex-icans.
And nobody here speaks a lick of spanish.
Bless it.
The “Cool Whip” containers – absolutely true! We use them as dog dishes. Let me add my own here:
1) There is ALWAYS a Maria as a family member
2) We use the empty toilet rolls as building blocks or toys
3) The WalMart plastic shopping bags – yep, we use them as trash can liners
4) The empty Nestle Quik Chocolate plastic containers – we use them to store other food items
How do I know this? Well, I too am a “red-nex-ican,” but this one speaks, “spanglish.”
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Always glad to meet a fellow red-nex-ican! Thanks for coming by. Your list is spot on. We should throw a party. You bring the piñata. I’ll bring the toilet paper rolls. 😉
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Wait a minute. Are there people who DON’T use Walmart bags as trash can liners?! Mind. Blown.
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hahaha. Right?
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I absolutely love your blog, I am so glad I found you.
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Thank you. I’m very glad to “meet” you. Thank you for taking the time to read and comment.
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another red-nex-ican here 🙂 mom of 5…totally ricey-while family on my side…married a cutie from MEX and his whole family ( literally related to entire town in mex) …5 coffe with cream kids and every weekedn is a party that lasts ALL FLIPPIN weekend plus.
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So fun to have you here. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
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Enjoyed your blog had a good laugh! I envy you seven children what fun!!
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It can sure be a lot of fun. 🙂
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I love this! My husband is a straight up coonass from the bayou. I’m from Texas and my dad calls us all a bunch of Red-asses. We live down in SW Louisiana where my husband is a commercial fisherman and I stay home raising our 4 boys ages 6, 5, 3, and 2. I just found your blog and I love that I can relate to just about everything you write about.
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Oh my. This is so great! Sounds like my family situation. Seriously! I am totally using this term.
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